How to hide your number to protect your privacy?

August 4, 2025 | 6 mins read

Person wearing a white mask holding a smartphone with an unlocked screen.

Between us… You care about your privacy, right? 😎 So let me share with you a few tips to keep your number from becoming the star of marketing databases. More specifically, how to keep your phone number to yourself, away from prying eyes. Gone are the days when your number was wandering around like a celebrity without bodyguards! 🕵️‍♂️ Now, let's dive into the world of masked numbers!

🤫 How to hide your number to protect your privacy? The ultimate guide!

As you know today, we live in a hyperconnected world… Well, that's great, but it also has its downsides. Our personal information, especially our phone number, has become a true currency. According to a recent study, over 53% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, highlighting how central our smartphones are to our lives. So, it’s more important than ever to know how to hide your number.

Whether you want to avoid harassment, protect yourself during online sales, or simply maintain a clear separation between your professional and personal life, hiding your phone number is an essential skill to master. And the good news? It's super simple!

✨ The art of temporary masked calling: The famous #31#

This is THE basic technique, the foundation of anonymous calling. Do you have a single call to make without revealing your precious number? No worries, the solution is also very simple.

A young man in animated style wearing a white mask and a gray hoodie, looking at his phone in an outdoor market.

The magic code: #31#

Imagine: you need to call a somewhat pushy customer service, or respond to an online ad without wanting to be called back at odd hours. That's where the prefix #31# will come in handy.

How does it work in practice? It's child's play!

Grab your phone (it'll be better with it 😅)
Dial #31# followed, without spaces, by the phone number you want to contact.
For example, to call 0612345678, you would dial:#31#
Make the call, and there you go! ✨

Your contact will see ""Private Number", "Unknown", or "Blocked Call" displayed on their screen. It's quick, efficient, and completely free. It works on all smartphones, whether you're on Team Android or a die-hard iPhone fan, and with any carrier.

Fun Fact: I've lost count of the times I've pranked my friends or parents by calling from a blocked number, using an app that modifies the voice 😂

It's the ideal solution for a one-time need, but be careful, you have to remember each time. One slip, and your number is revealed! If you're looking for a more "permanent" solution, keep reading, the next part should interest you.

🥷 Go ninja mode: permanently hide your number.

Tired of dialing #31# every time? Do you want ALL your calls to be private by default? It's absolutely possible, and it can be done directly in your smartphone settings.

A young, animated-style man wearing a white mask and a gray hoodie looks at the camera while holding a smartphone in a crowded street.

📱 How to call with a blocked number on Android?

The steps may vary slightly depending on your phone brand (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel, etc.), but the principle remains the same. Generally:

Open the Phone app.
Tap the three little dots in the top right corner to access the Settings.
Look for an option like "Phone Accounts", "Call Settings", or "Additional Services".
Find the line "Show my Caller ID" or "Caller Identity".
Select Hide Number. And there you go, you're all set!

From now on, all your outgoing calls will be anonymous. No more stress! 😎

📱 How to hide your number on iPhone?

With Apple, it's even easier, hiding your phone number is even more straightforward:

Go to your Settings on your iPhone
Scroll down and tap on Phone.
Select Show My Caller ID.
Simply toggle the switch off.

When it's gray, it means you're in masked number mode. Easy, right?

Quick comparison of anonymous SMS sending solutions

Method	Advantages	Disadvantages
#31# (one-time)	Fast, simple, universal	Must be repeated for each call
Settings (permanent)	"Set it and forget it," constant protection	May hinder callbacks

A friendly tip: If you mask your number permanently, remember to temporarily reactivate it if you’re expecting an important call and want the person to identify you. This will help you avoid ending up in blocked numbers!

🛡️ Alternatives: applications and services for tailored privacy

Need to go further? Maybe you have a business activity that requires juggling multiple numbers, or you just want an extra layer of protection. I have solutions for you!

A man wearing a white mask, a dark jacket, and a blue t-shirt, speaking into the receiver of an old-fashioned black phone, with a city street in the background.

Virtual number applications

Apps like our site Anonymous SMS, TextNow, or UnCall allow you to get a second phone number, often for free or at a low cost. It’s definitely the best way to mask your main phone number.

Advantages:

Separation of work/personal life:
Use one number for work and keep your personal number for loved ones.
Online protection:
Sign up for websites or services without ever giving your real number
Flexibility:
Change your virtual number whenever you want

It's like having a disguise for your phone! 🦸‍♂️

VoIP services (Voice over IP)

Services like Viber Out or TextNow also allow you to make calls to landlines and mobile numbers. By purchasing a bit of credit, you can call anywhere in the world, and your temporary number will show up instead of your personal number.

True story: I have a freelance friend who uses a virtual number for all his clients. This way, he can avoid being disturbed on weekends and keep his personal number private. Smart, right?

An important point to note: Using a private number is an excellent way to protect yourself. Many apps focus on the security and encryption of your communications, which is a real plus in our digital world.

🔎 The other side of the mirror: managing blocked calls that you receive

Now that you're a pro at calling anonymously, let's talk about the opposite situation. What to do when YOU receive a call from a blocked number? It's sometimes intriguing, often very annoying.

Can you call back a blocked number?

Generally, the answer is no. If someone took the trouble to hide their number, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for an individual to call it back directly.

However, some carriers offer a service that allows you to call back a blocked number within minutes after the call. But this is not a universal solution and its effectiveness may vary.

How to unmask blocked numbers? Mission (almost) impossible!

Let's be clear: it is nearly impossible to unmask blocked numbers reliably. Services that promise to do so are often ineffective. Only competent authorities can, within a specific legal framework, potentially trace the origin of a blocked call.

So, what to do?

The best strategy is prevention. Most smartphones allow you to automatically block calls from unknown or blocked numbers.

The benefits:

On iPhone:
Go to Settings > Phone > and enable Silence Unknown Callers.
On Android:
Open the Phone app > Settings > Blocked Numbers and enable the option to block unknown callers.

These calls will be sent directly to your voicemail without even ringing your phone. Royal peace! 🧘‍♀️️

A man wearing a white mask and a hoodie is looking at his mobile phone on a city street. The image is done in a cartoon or comic book style.

💪 Why hiding your number is very important for your privacy

Beyond the technical aspects of how to hide your number, it’s essential to understand the tangible benefits for your peace of mind.

The advantages of phone anonymity:

Protecting your personal data:
Your number is the key to many of your online accounts. Protecting it means protecting your digital identity.
Avoiding telemarketing and spam:
This is the number one reason for many of us. By not giving out your number indiscriminately, you drastically reduce the number of unsolicited calls.
Securing your online transactions:
When selling an item on a classifieds website, using a private or temporary number keeps you from being contacted months later.
Maintaining a professional distance:
Ideal for professionals who contact clients from their personal mobile.
Keeping control:
In the end, it’s you who decides who can reach you and when. That’s the real luxury!

Protecting your privacy is not a luxury, it’s a fundamental right in the digital age. By learning how to hide your phone number, you take a significant step toward regaining control of your data.

🕵️‍♀️ Conclusion: It’s your turn, secret agent!

And there you go! You now have all the tools to master the art of masked calling. We’ve seen together:

The ultra-simple #31# technique for occasional needs
How to set up your iPhone or Android to call masked permanently
Apps and services that offer even more flexibility and security
How to respond to masked calls you receive and the impossibility of unmasking hidden numbers
All the benefits you gain from hiding your phone number to protect your privacy

Hiding your phone number is no longer a secret for you. It’s a powerful and easy-to-use tool to navigate more confidently in our connected world.

So, the next time you hesitate to make a call, remember these tips. Take back control of your privacy, one call at a time! Feel free to share this guide with your friends, they too have the right to be secret agents!

🤔 FAQ: The questions everyone is asking

Q1: Does hiding my number also work for SMS?

No, unfortunately. Tricks like #31# or phone settings only work for voice calls. Your SMS will always display your number. For anonymous SMS, you need to use dedicated applications, and that’s exactly what our service Anonymous SMS offers.

Q2: If I call anonymously, can the person still leave me a voicemail?

Absolutely! If you reach their voicemail, you can definitely leave a message. The only difference is that the person won't see your number displayed.

Q3: How can I tell if the #31# worked?

The best way is to test it on a friend's phone (with their permission, of course!). You'll see right away if the call shows up as "Private Number."

Q4: Is there a difference between "masked number" and "private number"?

For the user receiving the call, there is no practical difference. Both terms mean that the caller's identity is not displayed.

Q5: Is it possible to unlock the "Show my number" feature if it is grayed out on my iPhone?

Sometimes, certain carriers may block this option. If that's the case, a quick call to your customer service might resolve the issue.